Benchmarking+ Measuring the Economic Diversity & Wider Social Value of Town Centres
Benchmarking+ Measuring the Economic Diversity & Wider Social Value of Town Centres
What get’s measured; get’s done!
But first... an over-baked metaphor...
...to understand variety
Focusing on process & progress Know starting point Monitor & review impact Limited to Key performance indicators (KPIs) Used alongside local planning & leadership Understanding different places Assess town function & issues Compare progress over time & place
Why measure & monitor?
Helping everyone track progress
Involve key stakeholders Keep it simple Let it be affordable Make it comparable
Bangor Holyhead
Colwyn Bay
Wrexham Caernarfon
Flint
Understanding different places & futures
Function Number of commercial units; Comparison/convenience; multiple/independent retail Shoppers’ origin
Perceptions & Issues Business perceptions; Shoppers’ perceptions;
Change Business & car park occupancy rates; Footfall; Business confidence
Monitoring the Economic Core of Towns
Sample Indicator C’narfon H’head Flint N Wales
Town Type
% Independent retailers 54% 73% 53% 50%
Length of visit (more than 1 hour) 69% 49% 83% 66%
Town Trends
Business vacancy rate 12% 18% 10% 10%
Business confidence (% reduced turnover) 30% 25% 36% 66%
Town Trajectory
Users perceptions (retail variety & quality) 22% 9% 63% 47%
Users perceptions (appearance ) 48% 34% 71% 74%
Users perceptions (leisure &culture) 37% 22% 63% 53%
Making Comparisons
0
5
10
15
20
25
% Vacancy 2010
Detailed & digestible data
Monitoring multi-purpose town centres
AMT (2011). Twenty First Century Town Centres.
Physical (place) Social (people) Economic (work)
Well planned, designed & maintained
Infrastructure fosters connectivity, growth & community cohesion
Availability & quality of housing across all tenures
Town centres as social & economic hubs
Access to community facilities & local services
Effective community empowerment & networks
Good health & personal safety
Thriving town centres
Strong local economies, business support, employment & investment
Learning & personal development opportunities
Recognizing Scottish priorities
Scottish Government (2010). Learning Network Report: Developing a Key Performance Framework for Your Town Scottish Government (2011). Achieving a Sustainable Future
Same key principles Core existing indicators Plus measuring breadth & depth: Cultural & community function Built heritage Economic diversity Local leadership & delivery
Developing Benchmarking+
Core Benchmarking
Retail Function
KPI 1: Total number of commercial units
KPI 2: Comparison/convenience retail KPI 3: Key attractors / multiple trader
Trends
KPI 4: Number of vacant units
KPI 5: Number of markets / traders
KPI 6: Zone A retail rents
KPI 7: Prime retail property yields
KPI 8: Footfall KPI 9: Car parking availability and usage
Perceptions and Priorities
KPI 10: Business confidence
KPI 11: Town centre users survey
KPI 12: Shoppers origin
Full Suite of Indicators
Benchmarking+
Cultural & Community Function
KPI A: Cultural Facilities (all 3 zones) KPI B: Community Services (all 3 zones) KPI C: Cultural and Community Events
Built Heritage
KPI D: Impressions score
KPI E: Number of listed buildings
KPI F: Development land
Economic Diversity
KPI G: Evening economy KPI H : Local Food and drink
KPI I: Bed spaces
KPI J: Self-reliance
Local Leadership and Delivery
KPI K: Partnership progression
KPI L: Planning and delivery
Benchmarking+ Colwyn Bay ‘Comparator’
Barrhead Business Confidence Survey: Better car parking not all yellow lines along Main Street. Shops on both sides of main street, not just Asda."
"Sort out Main St Alternative parking!!! Custom being driven elsewhere by overzealous wardens of yellow lines."
"Increase car parking e.g. make car park in Bank Street public again."
"Parking. Markets and events."
"Remove traffic wardens. Review rates.“
"Better car parking. Introduce a shop local campiagn"
"Something needs to be done regards parking as the last months trade has been crippled."
Overall Car Park KPIs
(car park & on-street)
Barrhead Barrhead
%
North
East %
England &
Wales %
Total Spaces 545 n/a n/a n/a
Short Stay Spaces 64 12 47 48
Long Stay Spaces 441 81 49 44
Disabled Spaces 40 7 4 4
Spaces on a Busy Day 99 18 17 25
Spaces on a Quiet Day 101 19 26 39
Core Car Parking KPI
Cultural & Community
Function
Comparing balance of ‘key attractors’ verses essential local: cultural facilities community services cultural & community events
For: town centre town edge out-of-town
Built Heritage
Reviewing balance of historic, present & future potential : listed buildings visual impression Allocated development land
Economic Diversity
Assessing town centre economic diversity beyond core retail offer:
Evening economy Food & drink Bed spaces & quality Self-reliance
Local Leadership
and Delivery
Assessing status and potential of local leadership and delivery through structured interview covering:
Town Partnership progression: the ‘F’ factors holistic town centre planning and delivery sequence
Capturing full flavour of Scotland’s Towns
Thoughts from Pilot:
Practical to measure & meaningful to compare Capture full range of town centre ingredients
What next?
Publication and stakeholder workshop with STP Additional pilots Autumn Launch of revised Benchmarking+